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Ref: 02/1/5/2
MINISTER
QUESTION NO. 958 FOR WRITTEN REPLY: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
A draft reply to Mrs J F Terblanche (DA) to the above-mentioned question is
enclosed for your consideration.
Ms Nosipho Ngcaba
DIRECTOR-GENERAL
DATE:
DRAFT REPLY APPROVED/AMENDED
MRS B E E MOLEWA, MP
MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
DATE:
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
(For written reply)
QUESTION NO. 958
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 8 NW1076E
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 18 March 2011
Mrs J F Terblanche (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental
Affairs:
(1) Whether her department is researching if a regulated trade in rhino
would serve to protect and expand the current rhino population; if
not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whether a regulatory impact assessment will be considered to
determine the effect that a regulated trade in rhino horn would have
on the health of the rhino population; if not, why not; if so, what
are the relevant details;
(3) when will the next session of the Convention on the Trade in
Endangered Species (Cites) that will discuss measures related to the
trade in rhino horn be held;
(4) whether her department has had any discussions with conservation
representatives of other countries since 1 July 2010 regarding
measures to (a) curb rhino poaching and (b) review regulations in the
trade of rhino horn; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant
details?
Mrs J F Terblanche (DA)
SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT
HANSARD
PAPERS OFFICE
PRESS
956. THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:
(1) Yes, the department will, as part of the outcomes of the Rhino
Summit held in October 2010, commission a feasibility study on the
viability of the legalization of the Rhino horn trade in South
Africa.
(2) No. A study will however be commissioned to determine whether
dehorning can be considered as an interim measure to address
security concerns. A preliminary scientific, non â detriment
finding, which determines whether trade in a particular species will
have a negative impact on the survival of the species in the wild,
has been conducted by the National Scientific Authority to determine
if the current off take is sustainable.
(3) In August 2011.
(4)(a)(b) Yes, representatives from the Department visited Vietnam in
October 2010 to discuss the hunting and illegal killing of rhinoâs
and the subsequent illegal trade in rhinoceros horn. The
Department also participated in the Southern Africa Development
Community (SADC) Rhino Management Group meeting, attended by
representatives from Swaziland, Zimbabwe, and Namibia; and the
IUCN Species Survival Commissionâs African Rhino Specialist Group
(AfRSG), attended by representatives from Swaziland, Zimbabwe,
Namibia, Malawi, Zambia, and Kenya.
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